The final full moon of 2022 will come on the evening of December 7-8. For us within the Northern Hemisphere, it’ll cross excessive overhead. In the meantime, from the Southern Hemisphere, it’ll experience low within the sky. Why? As a result of a full moon is all the time reverse the sun. And – for us within the north now – the sun rides low (so the moon rides excessive). For the Southern Hemisphere, the sun rides excessive (so the moon rides low).
The December full moon will fall at 04:08 UTC on December 8, 2022 (10:08 p.m. CST on December 7). That’s the second when this month’s moon is most immediately reverse the sun as seen from Earth. It’ll be an eventful evening for this full moon. Mars will reach opposition on this evening. In different phrases, Mars can also be reverse the sun on the evening of December 7-8. Since each the moon and Mars are reverse the sun, it’s no shock that these two worlds seem close to one another. From some elements of Earth, the moon will occult Mars – move in entrance of it – on the evening of December 7-8.
Read: Mars in 2022, at opposition December 7-8
Read: Moon will occult (cover) Mars on December 7-8
December full moon mimics the June sun
Each full moon is kind of reverse the sun. And a full moon’s path by the evening is reverse the sun’s path. So this December full moon’s path roughly follows the sun’s daytime path from six months in the past, or six months from now. Regardless of the place you’re on Earth, discover the moon’s path on December 7-8. The Northern Hemisphere will see the December full moon rise to almost the highest of the sky, simply because the sun does close to the June solstice. The Southern Hemisphere will see a low moon, mimicking a low winter sun.
Right here’s one other approach to take a look at it. Within the Northern Hemisphere, the December solstice has the least quantity of daylight of the yr. Since there’s nonetheless about 24 hours in a day irrespective of how a lot daylight there’s, the shortest day means it should even be the longest evening. To ensure that the moon to remain up all evening and stay roughly reverse the sun, it must take an extended path throughout the sky. The upper an object crosses the sky, the longer its path and the longer it stays above the horizon.
Names for the December full moon
Do you see why tonight’s moon is typically referred to as the Lengthy Evening Moon?
However – like all full moons – the full moon of December has many nicknames: Lengthy Evening Moon, Full Chilly Moon, Moon Earlier than Yuletide. However irrespective of which title appeals to you, remember to discover the moon’s excessive (or low) path!
Tracing the excessive path of the December full moon
Do that. Hint a line along with your finger from east to west to emulate the sun’s path in December. In case you’re within the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll be tracing a low arc above the southern horizon. Then, along with your finger, hint one other path excessive overhead. Now you’re emulating the moon’s December path, and also you’ll see it’s a longer path than the decrease one.
Little by little, we will watch the 2 paths come again into steadiness. Every month, the full moon will cross the sky at a barely decrease arc than the earlier month. Every successive full moon will take much less time than the earlier one to cross the sky.
What about an equinox moon?
At March’s full moon, which is close to the Northern Hemisphere’s spring equinox, the 2 paths – of the moon and of the sun – will probably be almost the identical. Then, close to the June solstice, these of us within the Northern Hemisphere will see the sun cross excessive overhead throughout the yr’s longest days. And, throughout the brief northern summer time nights, we’ll see the moon cross decrease and spend much less time within the sky.
And on the cycle goes.
Final full moon of 2022
This full moon is the final full moon of the Northern Hemisphere’s autumn – and Southern Hemisphere’s springtime – and it’s additionally the final full moon of 2022.
Plus it’s the closest full moon this yr to the December solstice, occurring simply 13 days earlier than the solstice. This solstice marks the beginning of winter within the Northern Hemisphere (and summer time within the Southern Hemisphere). It falls on December 21. The January 2023 full moon is 16 days after this December solstice.
You’ll discover this December 2022 full moon in Taurus the Bull, as proven on the chart beneath.
Take pleasure in December’s full moon! And don’t neglect … the purple object close to it’s Mars!
Backside line: The 2022 December full moon occurs in a single day on December 7-8, 2022. It intently follows the trail of the June sun. It’ll be close to vivid purple Mars. And from some locations it’ll occult or move in entrance of Mars.
